Getting tied up in Knots..

I have been practising Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga for a couple for months now on most Monday evenings. I have been learning it at Breathe yoga in Havelock North and my teacher Doris Blum is amazing. Doris who is originally from Switzerland has a diploma in Ayurvedic lifestyle management and has trained under two yoga teachers and styles over the years. Doris is a really hands on teacher, and she is always seen helping her class get into the positions. The teachers who really got through to Doris were John & Lucy Scott whom she spent lots of time learning from. She completed their teacher trainings I and II, and in 2009 became a certified Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga teacher with the International Yoga Alliance. Doris’s husband Urs, started learning yoga also after witnessing a transformation in Doris. He now too teaches Ashtanga.

The class I attend is level 2 Ashtanga Vinyasa, and it is a 2hr long class! Sounds exhausting doesn’t it; well it is, and it isn’t. Time goes by fairly fast while you are concentrating on aligning your body correctly, and pushing yourself just that little bit further into a pose. And yes you really do build up heat while you are practising. A good class will leave you feeling worked out yet quite energised. I often feel taller and leaner and light after my yoga sessions. But don’t be fooled by how yoga looks, not only are you stretching in a yoga class you are strengthening. You won’t believe how much yoga challenges your muscles; you will definitely feel sore the next day after an Ashtanga class. I know I do; but it’s a good hurt. And because I am only new to the class and most of the other people in it have been practising for quite some time (often years), I am the one struggling most of the time. I look at them and how strong they are, and how they hold themselves up while I am floundering around try to make my arms hold me. And I consider myself quite a strong person. Being naturally very flexible has definitely helped me with my yoga practise. But anyone can become more flexible by constantly practising and pushing themselves.

upward dog

Here’s an extract from Wikipedia explaining what Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga is:

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is an ancient system of yoga popularized by K.Pattabhi Jois. Pattabhi Jois began his yoga studies in 1927 at the age of 12, and by 1948 had established an institute for teaching the specific yoga practice known as Ashtanga (Sanskrit for ‘eight-limbed’) Yoga. The term Vinyasa refers to the alignment of movement and breath, a method which turns static yoga postures into a dynamic flow. The length of one inhale or one exhale dictates the length of time spent transitioning between postures. Poses are then held for a predefined number of breaths. The term viṅyāsa also refers to a specific series of movements that are frequently done between each pose in a series. This vinyasa ‘flow’ is a variant of the sun salutation, and is used in other styles of yoga besides Ashtanga. A standard vinyasa consists (for example) of the flow from plank, to low plank to upward-facing dog, to downward-facing dog.

The breathing style used in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is Ujjayi which is a relaxed diaphragmatic style of breathing, characterized by an ocean sound which resonates in the practitioner's throat. Throughout a practice, this specific breathing style is maintained in alignment with movements. The steady cycle of inhales and exhales provides the practitioner with a calming, mental focal point. Additionally, viṅyāsa and Ujjayi together create internal heat, which leads to purification of the body through increased circulation and sweating.

Another major principle of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga are bhandas, or muscle locks, which focus energy the body and are closely tied to the breath. There are three bandhas which are considered our internal body locks, prescribed in the different postures. The bandha is a sustained contraction of a group of muscles that assists the practitioner not only in retaining a pose but also in moving in and out of it. The Mūla Bandha, or root lock, is performed by tightening the muscles around the pelvic and perineum area. The Uḍḍīyāna Bandha, often described as bringing the navel to the base of the spine, is a contraction of the muscles of the lower abdominal area – this bandha is considered the most important bandha as it supports our breathing and encourages the development of strong core muscles. Jālaṅdhara Bandha, throat lock, is achieved by lowering the chin slightly while raising the sternum and the palate bringing the gaze to the tip of the nose.

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is different from many yoga classes in the west in that the order of poses is completely predefined. A practice will comprise of four main parts: an "opening sequence," one of the six main "series", a back-bending sequence, and a set of inverted postures, referred to as the "finishing sequence." Practice always ends with savasana, or resting pose. The opening sequence begins with 10 Sun Salutations and then several standing postures. Next, the practitioner will do one of the six main series, referred to as the Primary series(Yoga Chikitsa), Intermediate series(Nadi Shodhana)or Advanced A, B, C, or D (Sthira Bhaga) series level. Newcomers to Ashtanga Yoga practice the primary series, after learning the standing sequence. The Primary Series is the most important series as it forms the basis of the entire system. Practitioners may advance to more difficult series over a period of years or decades, but the goal of this style is not to learn the more difficult poses but rather to learn to maintain internal focus throughout the practice.

So now that you all know what Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is, I hope some of you become as interested in it as I am and go out and try a class. You might just love it! I will keep you all updated on how I am doing. Maybe one day I will be able to do this:

XO
Meg

Yoga is the fountain of youth.  You're only as young as your spine is flexible.  ~Bob Harper